What is
your Temperature ?

by Dr.Alex
Tang

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of
times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the
epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light,
it was the season of Darkness”, writes Charles Dickens in his novel, A
Tale of Two Cities. The two cities, Dickens has in mind are Paris
and London. We, Christians are also
living in a Tale of Two Cities. The Bible refers to the two cities as Jerusalem
and Babylon. We are part of an epic
drama that involves our eternal souls.

We are fast approaching the new millenium, a
time of great happenings, a time when our Lord may come again in glory. We are
told to be alert to His Coming, be ready for His Coming. “What I say to
you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’ ” (Mark13:37)

Wang Ming Tao, a famous Chinese Christian
taught us to always check our life with a spiritual thermometer so that we will
be spiritually healthy when the Lord comes.

Healthy Spiritual Life                                                Unhealthy Spiritual Life

Fervent in prayer                                                                  Lethargic
in prayer

Bible reading tasteful                                                         Bible
reading insipid

Fully trusting                                                                          Anxious
and doubting

Loving God more than everything                                 Loving
worldly things more than God

Resisting and hating sin                                                    Compromising with sin

Giving God the glory in all things                                  Seeking self glory in everything

Fully at peace                                                                         Much worrying

Giving thanks in all                                                             Much murmuring

Always happy and singing                                               Always
sad and sighing

Peaceful and patient in trouble                                       Easily provoked to anger

Much consideration of others                                          Much
consideration of self

Seeking God’s in all things                                              Seeking men’s pleasure in all things

Yearning for spiritual things in the heart                    Coveting
earthly things in the heart

Speaking words that edify others                                  Speaking words that criticise others

Happy to witness for Christ                                              No
power to witness

Cheerful to give to God’s work                                       Stingy
and unwilling to give

Rejoicing in other’s good success                                   Jealous
of others’ good success

A helping hand to those in trouble                                Nonchalant
at other’s misfortune

Willing to forgive others                                                    Not willing to forgive others

Character first                                                                        Clothing
first

Happy to keep close to devout Christians                   Happy
in the company of worldly friends

Happy to hear faithful admonitions                              Happy
to hear words of flattery

Eagerly hoping for the Lord’s return                             No
thought of things touching on the Lord’s return

Are we spiritually healthy? Can
we with confidence say, “ Come, Lord Jesus, Come”